PERC 2010 Abstract Detail Page

But Does It Last? Sustaining a Research-Based Curriculum in Upper-Division Electricity & Magnetism

Abstract:

We report on the process and outcomes from a three-year, six-semester project to develop, establish, and maintain a new course approach in junior-level electricity and magnetism (E&M). The course outcomes – improved learning gains and positive student attitudes – were sustained over five semesters of transfer between 5 different instructors of our E&M course. Additionally, the vast majority of the developed materials (i.e., clicker questions, interactive tutorials, modified homework, and documented student difficulties) were used by these instructors as well as being used at other institutions. These results indicate a high rate of sustainability of the course structure over time, between instructors, and between institutions. We describe the factors enabling this transfer to date, including instructors' personal experiences based on detailed longitudinal interviews.